UNCASVILLE — One newspaper story called it a melee. Another labeled it a brawl. It was also described as a fight, a scuffle and a skirmish. It was all of the above.   Read More »

Christian Abraham/Staff photographer

SHELTON — You're not going to get Ed Szymansky to single anyone out. Nope. Not a chance. You can ask him about his standouts and his surprises and the Shelton National Little League manager   Read More »

Brian A. Pounds/Staff Photographer

STRATFORD — The Stratford Brakettes have 62 years of history and tradition on their side. They have 28 ASA National Fast Pitch championships under their belts.   Read More »

NOT PLAY? MY EYE — Not even a broken bone in her face was going to keep the Brakettes' Mandie Fishback from playing against the U.S. Olympic Team.   Read More »

STRATFORD — The parking lots were nearly filled and there still was two-plus hours before the first pitch. In the outfield, seven small sets of bleachers flanked seven larger sets of temporary   Read More »

STRATFORD — John Stratton had handed over a program and walked away. You're going to pitch for the Brakettes one day, he had told her. Cat Osterman smiled and said OK and that was that.   Read More »

STRATFORD — There were many times when Kelly Kretschman would sit and just listen to the stories. Practice was over for the day and some members of the U.   Read More »

Here is a list of all former Brakettes players that have played for the various U.S. national teams over the years. USA OLYMPICS Ralph Raymond (manager) 1996, 2000; Shelia (Cornell) Douty 1996, 2000;   Read More »

NEW YORK — What a game it was. After watching (to the bitter end at 1:37 a.m., mind you) the American League slide past the National League in the longest All-Star game ever played, I've   Read More »

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

NEW YORK — Mariano Rivera got his wish. Sort of. Knowing that this is the final season for Yankee Stadium, the Yankees closer — along with all of New York — was hoping for a chance   Read More »

NEW YORK — This time was going to be the last time. Kerry Wood was going to throw one final time before making the call to Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.   Read More »

I LOVE NEW YORK — Chipper Jones' fondness for Shea Stadium is evident — he named one of his children after the place. But the Atlanta Braves' third baseman loves Yankee Stadium, too.   Read More »

NEW YORK — The first time he made the All Star team, Derek Jeter was happy just taking it all in. "I remember being in awe," Jeter said Monday during media interviews at the Grand Hyatt.   Read More »

BRIDGEPORT — By the end of the first hour, he was beginning to have some serious doubts about the decision he'd made. By the end of the first day, he decided he had made a big mistake.   Read More »

Brian A. Pounds / Staff photographer

It might be summer but the start of college basketball practice is just a little over three months away. As Fairfield University men's coach Ed Cooley prepares for his third season at the Stags helm,   Read More »

NEW HAVEN — One by one, the kids moved up through the line to the service area where the young man with the big smile was waiting. It was hot, already in the upper 80s and climbing, but Donald   Read More »

FAIRFIELD — There is a grand vision still to be realized. Ever so slowly, that vision is coming into focus. You can already see subtle changes taking place, little things to whet the appetite   Read More »

FAIRFIELD  The letters came to Michael Van Schaicks house at least once a week. Nice handwritten ones, too. Not some silly pre-printed form letter that so many of the other schools that wanted him to play basketball were sending out. No, these letters were personal.   Read More »

"You'd better watch out, you'd better not cry, you'd better not pout, I'm telling you why, Santa Chris is coming to town." Yes, once again, it's Santa Chris, that jolly fella (who does bear a strong   Read More »

Nathan Grube and Andy Bessette have decided to go fishing. Fishing for golfers. But these aren't a couple of little bluegills that Grube, the tournament director for the Travelers Championship, and   Read More »

EAST HARTFORD — His home career ended with nothing more than a slight whimper, not the big bang that Terry Caulley had so dearly wanted his final game at Rentschler Field to be.   Read More »

BRIDGEPORT — There were 31 kids working out in the pouring rain Thursday morning. Thirty-one kids who could have been home, warm and comfortable, waiting to eat Thanksgiving turkey and watch   Read More »

EAST HARTFORD — He stumbled, and Rentschler gasped. He stumbled again, and Rentschler gasped again. But somehow, D.J. Hernandez didn't fall down. Somehow, D.J. Hernandez stayed on his feet. Somehow, D.J. Hernandez found the end zone. And maybe found himself in the process. The Huskies live.   Read More »

Autumn Pinette/Connecticut Post

FAIRFIELD — Every time Dylan and Ryan Pape went outside to play with their buddies, Amanda Pape went too. Football. Kickball. Basketball. She wasn't about to be left out. Growing up as the only girl living on a block full of boys? Didn't matter.   Read More »

NEW YORK — Maybe it was a bold statement. Maybe it wasn't. As the first couple of coaches stood up and offered their assessments of the Big East Conference, it was the same old, same old.   Read More »

NEW YORK — The first exhibition game is just a week away. The first game will come just 10 days after that. In the snap of the fingers, the honeymoon between Ed Cooley and Fairfield is over.   Read More »

Quick, someone on the University of Miami administrative board, hurry up and go buy your president Donna Shalala a wide-brimmed hat. Or better yet, find her a nice, quiet place in the shade with a   Read More »

EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J. — His Sunday afternoons for now, and the foreseeable future, will continue to involve wearing a headset and not a helmet.   Read More »

BRIDGEPORT — The two men had started talking. They were not friends, not even casual acquaintances, just a couple of fathers shooting the breeze while their boys played Little League.   Read More »

FAIRFIELD — The guy couldn't hit a lick. That was the label and it stuck right to Jim Leyland. He could field his position, had a decent arm and could call a pretty good game, but hit? Forget   Read More »